Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-01-28
THE DEER RANGE OF MAINE.
I'm Unsettled Forest Covering Five
Hundred square Miles.

I'm Unsettled Forest Covering Five
Hundred square Miles.
The deer range covered by the almost
unsettled forest stretching miles into
the interior of the state, from the east
ern portion of the coast line. embraces
an area of about iye hundred square
miles. This vast tract has been bereft
of the greater part of its valuable tim
Der by lumbermen, and the forest is now
in state Of reproduction. Through
this region deer wander in such num-
bers that, in the opinion of Major Boyd.
there is no other deer range in the
country equal to it. Houses away from
the coast are found only at rare inter-
walls, there being whole townships with
not even road running through them.
To this attractive hunting ground ev-
cry year great number of sportsmcn
come from outside the state to hunt the
deer in a lawful manner. The law
abiding citizens OF that section OF the
state extend ready welcome to the
sportsmen, knowing that their visits
are material advantage, ii being esti-
mated that at least $50 are left in the
state for each deer the sportmen Kill.
They pay literally for the services OF
the guides who accompany them to the
best spots, as well as the boys who 60
to tend the camp. The teams which
transport the camp equppage are hired
of the livery stables in Maine towns,
and the supplies are bought in Maine
stores, while the sportsmen, in going
and coming to the range. stop at Maine
hotels. The citizens of the state enjoy
the same privileges in their right to
hunt deer as do these visitors from
away, so there is no just cause of com
plant against the law. To prevent the
extinction of the deer the state law pro-
vides that they shall not be hunted with
hounds. "Still hunting, said Major c.
II. Boyd of the United States coast
survey. who has just returned
from three months sojourn in tho
vicinity of Machias and the hunting
grounds, never will drive the deer from
the state VIII lie the forests lasts. but the
cry of the dogs frightens the deer from
the ranges, and they will not return for q
long time when once frightened of.
The game wardens in the execution OF
their duty. whenever they have been
informed that party of hunters have
gone into the woods with hounds, give
chase, and cruise until the camp is dis
covered and then woe to the dogs if
they are kept for killing deer-the war
dens make short work of them. For
all the region of five hundred square
miles there are but four wardens, and,
however viligant they may be, they
cannot suppress poaching and dogglng.
II wish, said Maj. Boyd, THAT you
would say something to arouse the in
terest of the people of this part of the
state in regard to n matter of such
value rs the preservation of the game.
With close time of five years upon
moose and caribou. the an mails would
again become abundant. Maine is
ahead of all other states in her game
laws. bu, the fact that the officers are
dehed and molested shows the need of
a larger number of men engaged in en-
forcing the laws Thirty or forty men
should 90 into the woods every year
for this purpose. Mai. Boyd added
that were it not for the law, there are
men in the hunting region who would
/ 20 into the woods next winter and kill
all the deer that they might sell the
hides Mt seventy-tive cents apiece The
deer now range near the coast as Well
rs in the interior, but no complaint
comes about them from the farmers, as
the deer viii pass over cultivated land
aud DO no injury to the crops. -Lewis-
! tom J0Hrad'